Can you have too much Macy's? - perhaps. But regular readers of this website know that I do bemoan the disappearance of so many NYC places and things that have given New York the character it is known for. As I also have written in my recent post Constant, many of the feelings that the best things and times have past are nostaligic and a complaint of every generation. Championing a merchant may appear to be unnecessary - they do get paid already as a business. And I have complained about excess consumption in this country with an over emphasis on materialism. However, we do need merchants and Macy's is not an ordinary merchant. To lose them would be sad. Their sponsorship and historic relationship with the Thanksgiving Day Parade (over 80 years) and the July 4th fireworks set them apart. They are part of the physical and psychic fabric of the city. I have written about them in more detail - click here for last year's posting. There is a security in knowing they are there, particularly as the world becomes more temporal, fragile and mutable. We need anchors. It reminds me of a Woody Allen comment about why he needs to live in NYC - that there's a restaurant in Chinatown where he can get a certain favorite dish at four o'clock in the morning. Not that he every has or will go there at that time. It's just knowing it's there. Macy's is one of those places - that whether you go patronize them or not, for a New Yorker, it's important to know they are there, especially at Christmas ...Posting Note: This posting will remain for two days (Monday and Tuesday) - I will be away with my family in New England. New postings will resume Wednesday. Happy Holidays.
6 comments:
I love Macy's. It really is one of the old-time great department stores. I know if you know how to work it, hitting their amazing sales you can get a big portion of a seasonal wardrobe there for $300 -- and they go all out on their decorations inside and out, and the parades and fireworks they put on are such an institution. Beautiful photo...I am a little afraid to brave the place during the heaviest of crowds before xmas days...
Thanks for visiting my site and leaving comments.
Have a great Christmas & brilliant 2008. Visit my page to see one of the world's best rock singers.
I love the indoor Macy's shot. Very nice.
Chris
Festive greetings of the season, whatever the festival or season means for you! I don’t get much time these days to visit and leave comments for all my bloggy friends…but love catching up with pics when I can.
I have so enjoyed your photography and commentary since first coming across your blogsite several months ago. Thank you, from Vancouver, Canada.
I know how you feel about Macy's. When Macy's bought Marshall Field's in Chicago and changed its name, it devastated much of Chicago. We simply couldn't imagine Chicago without the venerable destination department store. Some stores shouldn't be sold. Macy's is one of them.
Post a Comment